Collection of Arguments
Against Genetically Modified Food| #| Argument| Counter-Argument / Counter-Example / Aggressive Counter| 1| Technology may later be applied to humansEx. Attempts to create a super race, something which was already attempted by Nazi Germany and USSR during the time of war| Yes! We will be able to understand functionality of why things happen, we will develop cures to many diseases which won’t have side-effects as the cures will be personalized – by 2014 reading one’s genome is predicted to cost only $5000 and to be done only in an hour, big possibilities| 2| Health Side Effects| Ugh no. Before hitting the market, all food undergoes thousands of tests on whether it is dangerous toxically and/or allergically. Some tests compare molecular structures other compare atomic structures between GM and non-GM food. We can, in fact, genetically modify organisms to contain more nutritious and healthier elements than they did ever before. How do I know? Because it has already been done. Golden rice example.| 3| GM Crops require harmful chemicals to grow (ex. Nitrogen) | But they instead supplement the many more harmful chemicals that would be used if they weren’t genetically modified. | 4| Part of an ecosystem – damages the chain of those animals that depend on the GM product| The genes of the plant itself are not the most significant part of what determines its place in the ecosystem and how it interacts with its other members. For example, the microbes living in the root system – and microbes are everywhere, there are around 10 pounds circulating your digestive tract right now, have a greater impact on the plant’s metabolic processes than the plant’s genetic background itself. | 5| “Playing God” when we develop our own organisms| There is nothing unnatural in chemistry. We don’t invent compounds or molecules or such – they are here, they are in the Universe – we organize them and move them around but we do not create anything unnatural. | 6| Unnatural| Only if you don’t know biology. All microorganisms swap genes promiscuously all the time. Not only microorganisms – look at dogs for example. | 7| Evolutionary impact on the environment: May create super bugs and super weeds / reduce biodiversity. Irreversibility of releasing crops – will mix in with others| Evolution – breeding happened for thousands of years, even cross-sectional breeding. However it is very slow and the genes acquired may sometimes be negative ones. Genetic engineering ensures a faster process with only the stronger genes being present. Plus it allows for greater biodiversity as the genes can now be transferred from relatively distant species and even bacteria. |

For Genetically Modified Food|
#| Argument| Supporting Example| 1| Possibilities for food improvement (Also for animals)| Evolve disease resistance, design for higher yields and resistance to pests, increase vitamins and make healthier, expand the climate window, and produce better flavours and aromas. Example: 40% of crops, according to scientist and futurist, Steward Brand, are lost due to weeds and pests and related problems. Drought-tolerant. Flood-tolerant. Salt-tolerant. Example: Monsanto claims its potato that is resistant to the Colorado beetle could save 2,000 tons of pesticides, 180,000 containers and 150,000 gallons of fuel| 2| Genetic Engineering reduces the huge impact of agriculture on natural systems| No pesticide use. Reduce the impact on soil. Increase yield which leaves more land to remain wild. | 3| Morality of Genetically Modified Food| There is a moral imperative for making GM food ready and economically available to people in developing countries who need them.| 4| Economic Impact| Crops are much more accessible since there is no money wasted on pesticides, there are less losses do to pests, they grow quicker etc. This in return makes them accessible to more people. | 5| Organic food production...

YOU MAY ALSO FIND THESE DOCUMENTS HELPFUL

...GENETIC MODIFIEDFOODS: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
Nataliya Mogilna, Alex Magufwa
Sumy State University, Sumy, Ukraine
What are genetically-modifiedfoods?
"Geneticallymodifiedfoods" is the term most commonly used to refer to crop plants created for human or ani mal
consumption, which have been modified in the laboratory to enhance desired traits or improved...

...Benefits of GeneticallyModifiedFoods
In today’s day and age, it seems like technology is getting more advanced by the day. Because of this technology, many high income countries such as America now have the ability to mass produce food as well as to genetically modify it to enhance the size, flavor, and appearance. While mass production of food may sound like an easy solution to sustain the constantly...

...Student
Sarah Syrjanen
English 102
January 5, 2014
GeneticallyModifiedFoods and the Labeling Debate
There has been an ongoing debate between consumers and the government regarding the use of GeneticallyModifiedFoods in the market today. “Since the introduction of the "Flavr Savr" tomato, biotechnology companies continue to introduce genetically engineered...

...Eliminating GeneticallyModifiedFood at PLU
What comes to mind when reading the words genetic modification or Bacillus thurigiensis (abbreviated Bt)? I envision laboratories and science experiments, when in reality these words are related to the food we eat every day. What most Americans do not know is the threat that geneticallymodifiedfood presents to our communities. PLU should do...

...2012
GeneticallyModifiedFoodGeneticallymodifiedfoods (GMF) have foreign genes such as plants, animals and bacteria inserted into their genetic codes. Geneticallymodified organism is processed in a way that does not occur naturally. Combining genes from different organisms is known as recombinant DNA technology. There are alternative names for...

...Genetic Modifiedfood: Benefit or Detriment?
The most wonderful activity a human being can experience is new flavors and foods. For example, the first time a person tastes a delicious juicy piece of prime rib or a delightful hamburger with cheese and ham, his world is never the same. However, since the beginning of the twentieth century, the production of food has been supplemented by science. This has triggered an angry dispute...

...December 5, 2012
Global Tech. Issues
ICSS- 309 W05
GeneticallyModifiedFoodsGeneticallymodifiedfood, also known as GM food refer to as animals or plants that had their genetic makeup altered to make them grow bigger, stay fresher and other benefits that will make human life more simple. The concept of genetically...